Traditional Management to Quality Management

Most managers practice traditional management. They have been taught to control their organization and employees, using an “I’ll tell you what to do, and you’ll do it” mentality. Many mangers look at the short-term because their commitment to the organization is short range.

The culture change required to build a quality management environment is significant. Manage­ment must change its philosophy, practices, and assumptions about work and people. The biggest mistake usually made when implementing a quality management environment is underestimating the cultural changes that must occur and the time required for accomplishing these changes.

It is usually felt that only a few control charts are needed, and little effort is made to change the culture of the organization.

The programs needed to change from a traditional to quality management culture must be customized for an organization and its current culture. Figure 4-3 illustrates cultural changes that can be made.